RAWALPINDI: Punjab Minister for Labour and Manpower Raja Ashfaq Sarwar on Saturday directed the City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) to impose fines on owners of commercial sites whose premises were a breeding ground for dengue larvae.

He also told the administration to seal their (violators) properties if they do not follow the instructions.

“Registration of cases against the owners of commercial properties is not enough as they have not done anything to eradicate larvae breeding sites,” the minister said.

He was addressing a meeting at the commissioner’s office held to review anti-dengue arrangements.

He said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had directed zero tolerance towards violators.

The chief minister also warned government officials against any negligence, he added.

The minister said caution was required after above average monsoon rains forecast this year to avoid spread of the virus.

The minister also reprimanded the Auqaf department for not taking any concrete measure to clear mosques, Imambargahs, shrines of dengue larvaes.

He asked the administrator of the department to clear all religious sites under the control of Auqaf department within two weeks.

“The CDGR should also take action against the government department for not eliminating dengue breeding sites from their premises,” he said.

However, a senior CDGR official told Dawn that despite repeated warnings, the health department, RTMA, PTMA and RDA as well as environment department did not send teams to clear graveyards, junkyards and abandoned tyre godowns.

He said the anti-dengue campaign was limited to meetings and awareness seminars mostly attended by government officials.

The minister also visited Ramazan bazaars and expressed satisfaction over the working of the officials at the bazaar.

He said the bazaars were providing relief to the people.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2016